The Opelousas courier., 1887-10-08
ISLANDER, NOT PRINCIPLES.

W" ANS AAA4~s
The campaign of the Performers" Is
getting more and more q campaign OF
SANDER. Without any issues of their
own, having no policy marked out,
proposing no changes or reforms, they
find themselves without anything to
discuss or talk of, unless they indulge
in attacks upon the administration.
This is why they revive old issues
long since settled by the Democracy
and people of Louisiana-such as the
old land case, brought up by Blanchard
at a late meeting-and invent new and
absurd ISLANDERS, such as the contempt
| able statement that Gov. McEnery is
controlled in his appointments by
| others.
The weakness Of the reformers could
not be better exhibited than in these
SANDERS. They have not a word to
say for themselves; they cannot give a
valid reason why their candidate
should be elected to office; they can
not say what he would do if elected.
nTbey are left the onlvrecourse of a weak
cause-slander. Theyareg getting nearer
to this more and more every day.
When the campaign opened THE TIMES
DEMooRAf hoped that il would bring
about q calm and sensible discussion
of living interests affecting the people
of Louisiana, and that it would be free
from personal abuse. The reformers
however, refused to meet on such
battlefield, for the simple reason thai
they had no arguments, no policy, nc
principles, except to secure the contro
Of our affairs. They have been in
vited time and again to state wha'
thssT proposed to do; their views OF
leading measures of general import
ance have been called for. They have
always declined to give any, answer
ing that they had no views on these
topics, or had not maae up thei
minds, and going back again to thei
campaign of Islander with assertions
now that Gov. Enery's appointment
were personal, another time that the,
were not personal, but dictated to hin
by others-never that they were no
good selections and administered TIN
affairs of the State to the best interest
of all.
Have theyforgotten that the Repub
Hcans in the last presidential gam
paisn pursued this policy OF slande
and abuse, and that when. the Demo
Gratis invited them to discuss publ
measures and to cay what they Woul'
do they declined the invitation ant
dug up old stories about Cleveland
The people Of the United States repu
dated this plan of campaign In no IN
, certain manner. What they wanted t
know was how their affairs would b
administered, what policy would 3
pursued, what measures favored. I'D
Democracy explained; the Repup1ica
, party deemed slander and aDuse o
argument-and lost.
And 30 it will besin Louisiana. Their
!, are hundreds Of topies here that tn
. people would like TO hear discussed
!, Much hap been done already, yet muc
! still remSsssrso be done. VIII the r
forn AFnfasn that they proposes WI
they contin1s TO dodge these question
>, { living mofaent2 Do they beliey
! tt.at the people 81 Louisiana are SO d
void Of intelligence that they care n
. thing Tor the administration Of the
d affairs, care nothing for public meal
ures, and are satisfied with such o.
II ISLANDERS as these OF Blanchard an
others? IL so, they do them
q great injustice, as they win soon leal
ID when the question Is submitted to tt
II popular vote whether they want q CO.
q didate With ideas and principles, WI
/ proposes somethng, and who, We d
q know, will carry It out, or reform
|, without principles, policy or platforr
" IA Democratic mass meeting ana barbecI
win be held at Monroe Thursday, oct. Il
GOV. McEnery, Hon. q. Newton. Hon. j.
Is Enssis. Gen. RI. Gibson. Hon. B. F.Jona
Major II. Is. Burke, Hon. &c. E. Kidd, GeI
~ q. i. Bel and other gentlemen have be
l855 reanested To deliver addresses. ali Den
~ Gratis b. kisMt section OF The State witho
81 regard to fantional differences have been j
~ yitess so attend. Ample preparations ha
q Zzax 80 a~xa~xasrSro1f az nN .